Miss May I is a band every metalcore fan should have on their radar. They combine intense metalcore riffs that every fan of heavy music knows and loves with creative lyrics, and create an atmosphere of acceptance and love at their live shows. On June 22nd, Miss May I brought their act to Toronto’s modest venue, The Velvet Underground with support from Gideon, Soulkeeper and Dreamwake.
Though the stage was tiny, when Dreamwake took to it, their energy poured over the edge and right into the crowd. The four piece composed of vocalist Bobby Nabors, bassist Kevin Jacques, guitarist Dave Pazik and drummer Andrew Popolizio brought such a unique energy to the Velvet. Whispers of confusion floated around the crowd moments before Dreamwake’s set, as most of the fans were noting the saxophone on a stand at the edge of the stage. When Dreamwake began their set, the four piece was turned into a five piece, as they were joined onstage by saxophonist Kellon Reece. Dreamwake wove the saxophone seamlessly into their metalcore beats, creating an original and exciting sound. Instead of having complex guitar solos, Reece would perform a beautiful and soulful solo on the saxophone. And if that wasn’t enough, Dreamwave blended the dreamy sounds and aesthetic of 80s synthwave into the energy of their live performance. Their vivacity was infectious, and their sound was very fine tuned to their aesthetic. Popolizio’s drum tones paired perfectly with Jacques’s bass tones. Pazik and Reece’s fusion of guitar and saxophone was incredible, and Nabors’s vocals was the finishing touch Dreamwake needed to leave a lasting and positive impression on the crowd.
Keep up with Dreamwake: Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter
Soulkeeper was next to play, and they brought a completely different sound to the stage. From the moment they started playing to the moment they left, the audience was launched into the matrix. Soulkeeper had a very cohesive sound, thanks to riffs by guitarist Scott Gilmore, heavy, math-rock reminiscent basslines from Edwin Melendez, heavy drum beats from Tom Jefson and deathcore vocals from vocalist Eric Roberts. The combination of math rock, metalcore and deathcore was certainly something original. The intriguing mix was at times confusing, but it’s the kind of confusion that makes you want to listen again to figure it out. The audience was kept intrigued and headbanging during their whole set. Soulkeeper’s performance was stunning and incredibly well put together, which earned them wild cheers as they departed the stage.
Keep up with Soulkeeper: Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter
The Alabama metalcore rockers known as Gideon were not a name unknown to the crowd. Vocalist Daniel McWhorte entered the stage sporting a cowboy hat, a pleasant callback to the band’s southern roots. Gideon brought back the classic metalcore sound of the early 2010s, which was perfect for the venue they were playing. Within the tiny confines of the Velvet Underground, the classic metalcore sound had the crowd feeling wild. A huge mosh pit opened in the middle of the dim room, with fans crashing into one another with huge smiles on their faces. At one point, the band called for a wall of death and the room split in two. Both sides ran full force at each other, and shortly after, transformed the pit into a two-stepping dance party. Gideon kept the crowd engaged both with their music and crowd interaction, creating the perfect atmosphere to precede our headliners, Miss May I.
Keep up with Gideon: Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Finally, it was time for Miss May I to tear up the small stage of the Velvet Underground. THe band entered the stage and started with an explosive performance of At Heart. Harsh vocalist Levi Benton and bassist/clean vocalist Ryan Neff worked together to bring a beautiful balance of screams and cleans, while drummer Jerod Boyd and guitarist Elisha Mullins brought the heavy beats and ripping riffs that every Miss May I fan loves.
The small venue allowed the performance to be much more intimate; the stage was low, and there was no barricade to separate the band from the audience. Benton would frequently remind the audience that they were all a family, and mostly sang directly to the fans in the front row, maintaining eye contact or even reaching out to hold some fan’s hands as the band performed. They performed hits such as Hey Mister, Under Fire, and I.H.E.. Among their set was also the song A Dance with Aera Cura, which is originally from their debut album, Apologies Are For The Weak, but the 2024 remastered version features Garret Russel of Silent Planet. A mosh pit was consistently going all throughout Miss May I’s set, with different fans jumping in to experience the intensity at different times throughout their performance. The band started to close out the set with the melodic riffs of Relentless Chaos, then dove into Forgive and Forget. Boyd’s blast beats made the room shake, and the urgency of their performance had the crowd moshing like they hadn’t yet that night. Miss May I finished their set with their most popular song, Shadows Inside. After a particularly intense performance, Miss May I thanked their Canadian crowd and departed the stage with smiles.
Keep up with Miss May I: Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok
